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WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Hartford softball team dropped an America East doubleheader to the UAlbany Great Danes on Saturday. The Hawks (7-20, 1-7 AE) fell, 7-0, in the opening game before suffering an 11-1 loss to the Great Danes (18-9, 7-3 AE) in the final contest.

Brittany MacFawn was the thorn in Hartford's side, compiling 13 strikeouts for UAlbany while allowing just one hit, a Mackenzie Obert bunt, to lead her team to the shutout win. The Great Danes got on the board early, taking a 1-0 lead after capitalizing on a Hawks' miscue in the outfield. Opening up the game by earning a walk, Vicky McFarland put that run up in the next at-bat, turning a Kelly Costello single into extra bases following an error in the outfield on the play.

Zuzana Kudernatschova went the distance in the setback, recording eight strikeouts. All but one of the runs conceded by the hurler was earned.

Later in the game, Lauren Alcorn delivered two big hits, bringing in a pair of runs in the top of the fourth, part of a three-run frame for the Great Danes, before driving in three more in the top of sixth on a bases-clearing double to extend the advantage to 7-0. She finished 2-for-3 in the batter's box on the contest.

In the second contest, UAlbany took advantage of a plethora of free passes in the opening frame, scoring six runs on five walks, two hit by pitches, one hit and an error. The Great Danes plated two more on single runs in the top of the second and third to push their advantage to 8-0.

In the bottom of the fourth, Hartford grabbed one run back in the bottom of the fourth, and could have done more damage with runners on first and second. UAlbany's Maggie Cocks made the grab on a Marisa Ferguson line out to end the inning. Driving in the Hawks' run was a Chelsey Mooney single down the left field line that brought in Jackie Kelly, who doubled to centerfield in the previous at-bat.

The Great Danes added three more runs to their count in the visitor's half of the sixth, extending their advantage to 11-1. In Hartford's at-bats, the home team was unable to produce, ending the contest via the mercy rule. Allowing the first four runs of the game, Kaitlyn Meade took the loss while Mackenzie Thompson went the distance for UAlbany, striking out three.

Hartford and UAlbany conclude the three-game set on Sunday with a single game at 12 noon.